LUNAR EXPEDITION PLAN

two payloads in comparison with other portions of the complete Lunar
Expedition Program is shown in Figure 2-1. A breakdown of the Lunar
Transport Vehicle Is shown In Figure 2-2.
The Space Launching System consists of a three-stage booster
capable of placing either the (fanned Lunar Peyload or the Cargo
Payload on a lunar Intercept trajectory at escape velocity. This
plan does not contain development information on the Launching System
since such information is contained in a separate System Package
Plan being prepared concurrently. The development schedules in
these plans have been coordinated to insure compatibility.
In operation, the Manned Lunar Payload, weighing 13^,000 pounds,
will be boosted to escape velocity of approximately 37, OCX) ft/sec
on a trajectory which intercepts the moon. Velocity will be sufficient
to reach the moon in approximately 2^ days. As the Manned Lunar Payload
approaches the moon it is oriented with the local vertical by
the use of horizon scanners. The Lunar Landing Stage decelerates the
Manned Lunar Payload for a soft landing at a preselected site using
an altitude sensing device to determine time of ignition. Landing
at the preselected site will be accomplished using terminal guidance
equipment and a prepositioned beacon to effect an off-set landing.
The Lunar Launching Stage, using the Landing Stage as a base,
will launch the Lunex Re-entry Vehicle on the return trajectory.
In early test shots before men are included, the countdown and
launch will be effected automatically by command from the earth.
Small mid-course corrections may be necessary to insure re-entry
into the earth's atm sphere within allowable corridor limits.
The Lunex Be-entry Vehicle will re-enter the earth's atmosphere
within the allowable corridor so that It will not skip back into
space again nor burn from excess heat. It will use aerodynamic
braking to decelerate and will have sufficient lift capability to
effect a normal uhpowered aircraft landing at a base such as
Edwards Air Force Base.
Several successful unmanned, completely automatic flights of
the type Just described must be completed in order to establish
confidence in the system reliability before manned missions will be
attempted.
Cargo will he transported to the lunar surface using the same
procedures and equipment except that the Lunar Launch Stage is not
needed. The Cargo Package will have a weight equal to the combined
weight of the Lunex Re-entry Vehicle and the Lunar Launch Stage.
As a separate approach to the problem of placing Large payloads -
on the moon, techniques of rendezvous and assembly in earth orbit .
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